The Honor Act: Why Supporting This Bill Matters to Firefighter Families

In this episode of APS Radio, host Jim Burneka focuses on educating listeners on the importance of passing the Honor Act legislation. The Honor Act is a bipartisan bill that would extend the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program to families of firefighters who die from job-related cancer. This episode features Cyndi Westfall, Jay Leach, and Julie Paidar, firefighter spouses who have each experienced such a loss.

 

Use this link to find your members of Congress to reach out about this important issue:  https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

 

URGENT:

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act is currently included in the Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It is NOT included in the House’s version of the NDAA. Senate and House Armed Services Committee members are currently in discussions to determine what stays in (and what is removed from) the final, reconciled 2026 NDAA.  

 

As members of Congress meet this week (week of November 9, 2025) and possibly into next week to finalize the 2026 NDAA, please reach out to your representative ASAP:

1. Mention that the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act is currently in the Senate’s version of the NDAA.
2. Request that House members keep the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act in the final 2026 NDAA.
3. Ask your representative to personally reach out to Rep. Jim Jordan and House leadership to ensure that they keep the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act in the final NDAA.  These members of Congress can affect the final decision.

• House Judiciary Committee Chairman:  Jim Jordan (R-OH)
• Speaker of the House: Mike Johnson (R-LA)
• Majority Leader: Steve Scalise (R-LA)
• Minority Leader: Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
• Majority Whip: Tom Emmer (R-MN)
• Minority Whip: Katherine Clark (D-MA)

 

None of us think we’ll get cancer.  Unfortunately, you or someone you know may face cancer.  Please take a few minutes to reach out to your representative. You may unknowingly be helping your own family or a fellow firefighter in the future.

 

This podcast is brought to you by FirehouseFurniture.com. https://www.FirehouseFurniture.com